The Madras High Court campus, known for its stately building and impressive annexes, is now shorn of its looks. It is littered with handbills and pamphlets ahead of the election to the Madras High Court Advocates’ Association (MHAA).
As aspiring candidates throw everything into the campaign, including a mass of paper, sweepers and election committee members alike are facing a tough time to contain the accumulation of litter.
A woman sweeper said, “We have tough time to clean the campus as massive waste is piling up on the court campus. In spite of clearing the waste repeatedly, we keep stumbling upon handbills, as the place has been littered indiscriminately.”
In high voltage campaign, the contesting advocates and their supporters are distributing colourful, glossy pamphlets among lawyers and in their enthusiasm even among litigants.
“The campus wears an ugly look because of this littering. Even trees and creepers are not spared, as campaign material is nailed or fixed on them by the candidates,” said M.S.Sivakumar, a social worker.
Anybody who steps into the campus has to tread on handbills and pamphlets containing candidates’ pictures and their promises.
And car owners have pieces of paper stuck on their panes.
Ironically, one candidate is promising to plant more trees, if elected, to make the campus litter-free.
P.T. Asha, a member of the election committee, said, “We requested candidates to keep the campus clean. As per rules, we can disqualify only the candidates who put large size banners. Beyond that we cannot restrict them from issuing pamphlets and distribution. We have also advised them not to stick campaign material on trees.”
Ninety-five candidates are in fray and 7,300 advocates are eligible to cast their votes in the election to be held on Thursday.
